Thread: Hone questions

I have three hones, cushion strop buck, gem, and lithide . I have looked for these names but have not found much. Any info and or direction would be appreciated. Thank you.


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Well, they are barber hones that primarily are used for maintaining the edge of a razor that already is capable of shaving. Do you have any shaving or honing experience?

What is their condition? Are you able to post photos of them?

Originally Posted by Utopian

Well, they are barber hones that primarily are used for maintaining the edge of a razor that already is capable of shaving. Do you have any shaving or honing experience?

What is their condition? Are you able to post photos of them?

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Originally Posted by RickWY

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I have only experience with knives and wood working tools. Thanks.


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Wow those look like they are in great condition, the one may be new old stock (NOS).

Basically as stated above they are used to maintain a shave ready edge. The premiss is that at regular intervals you will do a few strokes on the hones to keep your edge in great shaving condition. In theory, if you did 4 to 6 passes once every week or two, or perhaps monthly, depending on your beard and shaving habits, you could maintain your razors edge indefinitely. That of course goes with the pretense that you are stropping every shave on linen and leather.

Originally Posted by RezDog

Wow those look like they are in great condition, the one may be new old stock (NOS).

Basically as stated above they are used to maintain a shave ready edge. The premiss is that at regular intervals you will do a few strokes on the hones to keep your edge in great shaving condition. In theory, if you did 4 to 6 passes once every week or two, or perhaps monthly, depending on your beard and shaving habits, you could maintain your razors edge indefinitely. That of course goes with the pretense that you are stropping every shave on linen and leather.

I think the hones are new. Do I just use one or progress on each stone?


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They are pretty much all just finishers. There would be no progression. Just use one or the other. You will figure out which one you like better easily enough. It's all about the feel of the shave.

Thank you both!


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I think my hones are in really good shape.


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The ones with clay binders are specifically the ones I'm thinking of. If I had any idea a B. hone was made of resin I wouldn't attempt it for all of the reasons you mentioned. But I figure the clay ones had to be surfaced at the factory, and I imagine they had some simple/quick method of getting it done.

I doubt they spent the same amount of time surfacing each individual stone that I have sanding the Swaty flat, polishing it, then burnishing. Well, I'm sure right out of the kiln they'd really only have to burnish the hones, but my question is what method did they use for that? Sanding disc, stone grinding wheel, cloth buffing wheel with paste, good old fashioned Arkansas stone and elbow grease?